Roberta Burden

Dr. Roberta Burden is a Senior Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Pharmacy, specializing in protease biology and inhibitor development. Her research focuses on cellular microenvironments, inflammation, and aging-related diseases like cancer and fibrosis. She holds a BSc in Biochemistry, an MSc in Medical Sciences, and a PhD in protease biochemistry from Queen’s University Belfast. Dr. Burden’s career includes postdoctoral roles in academic and industrial settings, including leadership in R&D at Fusion Antibodies Ltd.

Her research interests include protease-driven tumor microenvironment dynamics, anti-angiogenic therapies, and drug delivery systems. She actively supervises PhD students in protease biology and inhibitor design. Notable projects include the Future Medicines Institute (2024–present), a collaborative effort exploring advanced therapies. Dr. Burden teaches courses such as PMY2002 (Medicinal Substances) and PMY3174 (Clinical Therapeutics 2), integrating pharmacogenomics into pharmacy education.

Her recent publications emphasize nanoparticle delivery systems, cathepsin S targeting in cancer, and lysosomal protease mechanisms. Collaborations span academia and biotech, with a focus on translating lab findings into clinical applications. Dr. Burden’s work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals addressing health and innovation.